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HomeMy WebLinkAboutstaff report minutesJuly 6, 2006 ITEM NO.: 3 FILE NO.: LU06-25-01 Name: Land Use Plan Amendment - Port Planning District Location: Either side of Lindsey Road north of 1-440 Request Park Open Space to Commercial Source: Rajendra Patel PROPOSAL / REQUEST: Land Use Plan amendment in the Port Planning District from Park Open Space to Commercial. Commercial includes a broad range of retail and wholesale sates of products, personal and professional services, and general business activities. There is an accompanying item to rezone this property from R-2 Single Family to C-3 General Commercial. Prompted by this Land Use Amendment request, the Planning Staff expanded the area of review to include an area east of Lindsey Road at 1-440 as well. T his change makes the area between the Fourche and 1-440 either side of Lindsey Road part of the application. EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING: The property is wooded currently zoned R-2 Single Family and is 4.8 acres ± in size. The expanded area includes land cleared east of Lindsay Road, which is regenerating and zoned R-2. The area of the total amendment area is 9 acres ± in size. The site of the amendment is zoned R-2 Single Family. The western section is wooded and the eastern has bee cleared with the vegetation returning. To the northwest is the Little Rock Regional Airport. This Land Is zoned 1-2 Light Industrial and 1-1 Industrial Park. To the immediate northeast is a Park zoned PR, Park Recreational and R-2 Single Family. Some of this R-2 land is vacant and a row of Single-family homes is along Roosevelt Road. Beyond this to the north and northeast is land zoned 1-1 with a warehouse -distribution use. To the south is Interstate 440; beyond this is the west end of the Little Rock Industrial Park. There are several warehouse -distribution uses in this area. July 6, 2006 ITEM NO.: 3 (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU06-25-01 FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS: March 18, 2003, Multiple changes were made north and west of the application area. In the vicinity of this application changes were made across Fourche Creek from Industrial to Public Institutional for the Airport and Industrial to Light industrial to more accurately reflect the Airport Master Plan. A small area of Single Family was changed to Light industrial either side of Roosevelt Road east of Lindsey Road. These changes were part of the 'East of 1-30' Plan review conducted in 2001. The intent of changes in this area were to bring the City Land Use Plan into conformance with the Airport Master Plan which calls for Airport control of all lands between the current airport facilities east and south to Fourche Creek. The Land Use Plan shows this site for Park/Open Space. North of Fourche Creek is shown for Light Industrial. A small area of Single Family is shown along Roosevelt Road with a designation of Future Light Industrial. The Little Airport Master Plan calls for the acquisition of all the land north and west of Fourche Creek. The Land Use Plan recognizes this future expansion of the airport and related industrial uses. South of Interstate 440 is shown for Industrial use. This is a portion of the Little Rock Port industrial Park. MASTER STREET PLAN: Lindsey Road is shown as a Collector on the plan. A Collector provides a connection between the Arterial system and local streets or activity centers. The secondary function of a Collector is to provide access to adjacent properties. There are no improvements currently programmed for this road. Additional right- of-way and paving may be required as a result of the development. BICYCLE PLAN: The Master Street Plan, bicycle section, proposes a Class II bike route along the Lindsey Road. A Class II route uses a portion of the pavement for the sole purpose of moving bicycles. No additional right-of-way would be required, however different markings and signage along the street would be needed. The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Master Plan indicates this site is within 8 - blocks of a public park or open space. 2 July 6, 2006 ITEM NO.' 3 (Cont__ HISTORIC DISTRICTS: FILE NO.: LU06-25-01 There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION P The property under review is not located in an area covered by a City of Little Rock recognized neighborhood action plan. ANA[ YSIS� The amendment area is either side of Lindsey Road north of interstate 440. This is the location of an interchange. The site is a narrow strip of land between the interstate and Fourche Creek. To the north of Fourche Creek is land already owned by the Little Rock Regional Airport or identified for future acquisition by the airport. The Regional Airport wishes to own this property of direct airport needs as well as for related industrial uses which might locate on or adjacent to the airport, using their facilities. Just south of the interstate is a rail spur line serving the Little Rock Port. Beyond this is land zoned for industrial use and mostly developed with warehouse and distribution uses. It is the western section of the Port Industrial Park. With the Airport, Port and interstate freeway this vicinity is ideal for industrial, distribution and related uses. The interchanges to the east and west each have a small amount of commercial use. To the west are four motels, small restaurant and parking facility. Most of these have a strong relationship with the airport. To the east is a service station, motel and vehicle support businesses to address the needs of those using the Port facilities as well as the freeway. There are still four small neighborhoods to the northeast. Two of these neighborhoods have been identified by the Airport as future expansion areas. As part of the current Airport Master Plan update process, the Airport has indicated the new Plan should show additional areas for future expansion of airport related uses. This would result in the conversion of all four neighborhoods to industrial uses. Two city parks can be found to the northeast. One is adjacent to the eastern section of the amendment area. This park as a public boat -ramp as well as playground and open space of athletic 'practice' fields. The second park is in a neighborhood over half a mile to the northeast. Fourche Creek has been chanelized in this area. The Parks and Recreation 3 July 6, 2006 ITEM NO.: 3 (Cont. FILE NO.: LU06-25-01 Master Plan does show the Fourche corridor as the `Take it to the Earth' Trail. Public Works has indicated that the exact location of the floodway needs to be delineated. In addition an easement along the floodplain would be requested. Fourche is the main drainage for the City of Little Rock. Any development along its banks should be designed such that it will not impact the carrying capacity of Fourche Creek. This site is further impacted by the airport height limitations. The Little Regional Airport recommends the Federate Aviation Administration clear any structure's height. With industrial parks to the south and north and a location at an interchange of an interstate freeway some commercial use appears reasonable. There can be a need to provide some retail service to either (or both) the adjacent work force in the industrial parks or the traveling public on the freeway. The location adjacent to the Fourche with a city park close by does warrant review by the City. The existing Land Use Plan designation of Park/Open Space is not supported by the Parks Master Plan as a public park. Some use of the Fourche corridor is suggested by the Parks Master Plan, but the use of the entire site is not proposed at this time. The City does not intend to acquire this site as a park, thus some alternative use is reasonable. After review of the site and vicinity staff agrees that, though the site is challenging to develop, commercial in this general location is reasonable. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following associations: East Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, Hermitage Property Owners Association and College Station Progressive League. Staff has received no comments from area residents. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.- Staff ECOMMENDATIONS: Staff believes the change is appropriate. CI Vicinity Map Plan Amendment Case: LU06-25-01 Location: NWC I-440 & Lindsy Rd. N PK/OS to C Ward: 1 PD: 25 0 250 500 Feet CT: 40.01 BEENo TRS: T1NR11W17 Vicinity Map Area Zon Case: LU06-25-01 Location: NWC I-440 & Lindsy Rd. N PK/OS to C Ward: 1 PD: 25 0 250 500 Feet CT: 40.01 TRS: T1NR11W17 July 6, 2006 ITEM NO.: 3 (Cont. FII -.E NO.: LU06-25-01 Master Plan does show the Fourche corridor as the 'Take it to the Earth' Trail. Public Works has indicated that the exact location of the floodway needs to be delineated. In addition an easement along the floodplain would be requested. Fourche is the main drainage for the City of Little Rock. Any development along its banks should be designed such that it will not impact the carrying capacity of Fourche Creek. This site is further impacted by the airport height limitations. The Little Regional Airport recommends the Federate Aviation Administration clear any structure's height. With industrial parks to the south and north and a location at an interchange of an interstate freeway some commercial use appears reasonable. There can be a need to provide some retail service to either (or both) the adjacent work force in the industrial parks or the traveling public on the freeway. The location adjacent to the Fourche with a city park close by does warrant review by the City. The existing Land Use Plan designation of Park/Open Space is not supported by the Parks Master Plan as a public park. Some use of the Fourche corridor is suggested by the Parks Master Plan, but the use of the entire site is not proposed at this time. The City does not intend to acquire this site as a park, thus some alternative use is reasonable. After review of the site and vicinity staff agrees that, though the site is challenging to develop, commercial in this general location is reasonable. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following associations: East Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, Hermitage Property Owners Association and College Station Progressive League. Staff has received no comments from area residents. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff believes the change is appropriate. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JULY 6, 2006) The item was placed on the consent agenda for approval. By a vote of 9 for and 0 against the consent agenda was approved. CI